Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
took me nearly 2 years to read at the pace of a literal snail. luckily i LOVE IT HEREEEEE
Review forthcoming, but initial impressions are that this book is extraordinarily claustrophobic, uncomfortable, and yet very compelling.
I picked up this book on recommendation from one of my professors, who described Mervyn Peake as the "anti-Tolkien approach to fantasy." Now, don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate Tolkien's work for what it is; but if you're the kind of reader who found the Lord of the Rings to be off-putting and you still want to read some quality fantasy, this novel might do it for you. It's less about delving into the realism of a fantasy world and building it from the ground up and more like taking a snapshot of life in a distant country with no context. Finding your way through the book is part of the experience, and one that is absolutely a joy to read.
Things I Liked
1. Prose: Hands down, this novel contains one of the most stunning prose styles I've ever read. It's incredibly detailed with lots of adjectives and adverbs woven together to create a picturesque view of the world Peake has created. As a result, the reading experience is somewhat cinematic.
2. Characters: In addition to having very Dickensian names (like Prunesquallor, Sepulchrave, etc.), the characters in this novel are rather eccentric and nonsensical. Rather than being a deterrent, I found their quirks to be rather charming and I enjoyed being unable, as a reader, to completely predict what course of action each character was going to take.
3. Genre-Busting Qualities: I'm not a huge fan of fantasy novels that make use of tired-out tropes like tons of wizards, trolls, the rogue hero, prophecies, etc. to move their plot along. Peake's novel, thankfully, contains none of those. It's still very obvious to tell that Titus Groan is a fantasy novel, but Peake relies more on world-building than on genre conventions.
4. Steerpike: I can't gush enough about my love for Steerpike, one of the main characters (if we can count any of them as "main") in the novel. The workings of Steerpike's mind are so brilliantly crafted that he makes an excellent antagonist - he's cunning, crafty, and resourceful, relying entirely on the strength of his mind to rise above his social station and gain access to even the most guarded secrets of Gormenghast. Peake's habit of dropping subtle yet telling details about Steerpike enhance that sense, as readers have to be attentive enough to pick up on those things to really understand what Steerpike is doing. It feels a bit like getting inside his mind and thinking the way he does.
Things I Didn't Like
1.Plot: There isn't really a driving plot to this novel, which I didn't mind so much; but if you're a reader that enjoys action or a story with a problem to solve, this book isn't going to do it for you. I will admit, there were times where I felt like reading was slow-going. You just have to be prepared for it and willing to focus more on the world-building and the prose style.
2. Lack of Centrality: There isn't really a "main character" in this novel, as the narration follows a bunch of different characters so the reading experience is a bit like sitting on a cloud and looking down on the world, observing the lives of mortals. I didn't realize that at first and was a bit disoriented upon starting the novel, but it becomes more and more delightful as time goes on. However, if you're a reader who likes a strong, central character to follow, this book may not be for you.
Recommendations: Definitely pick this book up if you're interested in fantasy, especially the kind of fantasy that's less reliant on making a realistic world and more about enjoying the whimsical. You may also enjoy this book if you like Alice in Wonderland or some of CS Lewis's work, but die-hard Tolkien fans might not like Peak's style of fantasy as much (this is based on my professor's teaching experience).
Things I Liked
1. Prose: Hands down, this novel contains one of the most stunning prose styles I've ever read. It's incredibly detailed with lots of adjectives and adverbs woven together to create a picturesque view of the world Peake has created. As a result, the reading experience is somewhat cinematic.
2. Characters: In addition to having very Dickensian names (like Prunesquallor, Sepulchrave, etc.), the characters in this novel are rather eccentric and nonsensical. Rather than being a deterrent, I found their quirks to be rather charming and I enjoyed being unable, as a reader, to completely predict what course of action each character was going to take.
3. Genre-Busting Qualities: I'm not a huge fan of fantasy novels that make use of tired-out tropes like tons of wizards, trolls, the rogue hero, prophecies, etc. to move their plot along. Peake's novel, thankfully, contains none of those. It's still very obvious to tell that Titus Groan is a fantasy novel, but Peake relies more on world-building than on genre conventions.
4. Steerpike: I can't gush enough about my love for Steerpike, one of the main characters (if we can count any of them as "main") in the novel. The workings of Steerpike's mind are so brilliantly crafted that he makes an excellent antagonist - he's cunning, crafty, and resourceful, relying entirely on the strength of his mind to rise above his social station and gain access to even the most guarded secrets of Gormenghast. Peake's habit of dropping subtle yet telling details about Steerpike enhance that sense, as readers have to be attentive enough to pick up on those things to really understand what Steerpike is doing. It feels a bit like getting inside his mind and thinking the way he does.
Things I Didn't Like
1.Plot: There isn't really a driving plot to this novel, which I didn't mind so much; but if you're a reader that enjoys action or a story with a problem to solve, this book isn't going to do it for you. I will admit, there were times where I felt like reading was slow-going. You just have to be prepared for it and willing to focus more on the world-building and the prose style.
2. Lack of Centrality: There isn't really a "main character" in this novel, as the narration follows a bunch of different characters so the reading experience is a bit like sitting on a cloud and looking down on the world, observing the lives of mortals. I didn't realize that at first and was a bit disoriented upon starting the novel, but it becomes more and more delightful as time goes on. However, if you're a reader who likes a strong, central character to follow, this book may not be for you.
Recommendations: Definitely pick this book up if you're interested in fantasy, especially the kind of fantasy that's less reliant on making a realistic world and more about enjoying the whimsical. You may also enjoy this book if you like Alice in Wonderland or some of CS Lewis's work, but die-hard Tolkien fans might not like Peak's style of fantasy as much (this is based on my professor's teaching experience).
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A new favorite! I was attuned especially to the satirical and humorous intentions of the author, but it can easily be read as an intriguing fantasy of a dark and timeless Europe, with traditions that sit heavily upon all.
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i am beyond mixed after finishing this.
the way this was written was a gorgeous and delicate line of overindulging purple prose, and purposeful writing. but yet, it did struggle with overindulging at times.
and for the characters, they were what carried the book. the dialogue was eccentric and witty, but also insanely left-field and surreal. it was intriguing to read as a stand alone, but plot purposes, it did at times feel clunky. and for the main cast, most of them were really strong and fleshed out, but for the life of me mrs. slagg pissed me off beyond enjoyment. i can't tell if it was on purpose, if so well done peake, but every time she showed up, i groaned at her dialogue. she bogged every interesting interaction down to the same two liners. beyond her, the cast was very strong. fuchsia, steerpike and prunesquallor were really interesting. flay, irma and sepulchgrave carried the eccentricities of this book.
for the plot, i'm also mixed. it was a plot of both mighty and low consequences. i felt as though what was happening was made out to be big deals, but also inconsequential.the burning being the late-mid section of the book set it up as the main thing for an unravelling third act, but just became dialogue choices is beyond me. and with this, by the time it ended, it just felt incomplete.
i was both enthralled and disappointed by this book, and the positives only slightly outweighed the negatives.
the way this was written was a gorgeous and delicate line of overindulging purple prose, and purposeful writing. but yet, it did struggle with overindulging at times.
and for the characters, they were what carried the book. the dialogue was eccentric and witty, but also insanely left-field and surreal. it was intriguing to read as a stand alone, but plot purposes, it did at times feel clunky. and for the main cast, most of them were really strong and fleshed out, but for the life of me mrs. slagg pissed me off beyond enjoyment. i can't tell if it was on purpose, if so well done peake, but every time she showed up, i groaned at her dialogue. she bogged every interesting interaction down to the same two liners. beyond her, the cast was very strong. fuchsia, steerpike and prunesquallor were really interesting. flay, irma and sepulchgrave carried the eccentricities of this book.
for the plot, i'm also mixed. it was a plot of both mighty and low consequences. i felt as though what was happening was made out to be big deals, but also inconsequential.
i was both enthralled and disappointed by this book, and the positives only slightly outweighed the negatives.
Castle Gormenghast is an Earldom reigned over by a cast of larger than life characters though the meager plot creaks along like the knees of Mr. Flay.
Lord Sepulcrave is the Earl of Groan. He is melancholic and stolid, and his only enjoyment in life is his library.
The Countess is a mysterious, curvaceous woman who sequesters herself away with her many birds, with whom she seems to be able to communicate.
Fushia is their daughter, a romantic, dramatic teenager with a cunning streak.
The twins are Sepulcraves sisters, forgotten and isolated in their own wing of the castle. Seizures in their childhood left them addle-brained. They resent the countess for her perceived power.
The lives of all these characters are disrupted when a kitchen boy named Steerpike gets the idea to raise his station in the castle by manipulating the twins.
In the midst of all this, baby Titus, the future Earl of Groan is passively living the first two years of his life.
The characters were fun but the story was pretty boring and tended to ramble on and on about peculiar things.
Lord Sepulcrave is the Earl of Groan. He is melancholic and stolid, and his only enjoyment in life is his library.
The Countess is a mysterious, curvaceous woman who sequesters herself away with her many birds, with whom she seems to be able to communicate.
Fushia is their daughter, a romantic, dramatic teenager with a cunning streak.
The twins are Sepulcraves sisters, forgotten and isolated in their own wing of the castle. Seizures in their childhood left them addle-brained. They resent the countess for her perceived power.
The lives of all these characters are disrupted when a kitchen boy named Steerpike gets the idea to raise his station in the castle by manipulating the twins.
In the midst of all this, baby Titus, the future Earl of Groan is passively living the first two years of his life.
The characters were fun but the story was pretty boring and tended to ramble on and on about peculiar things.
took me over a month to read which says volumes for me. meh.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
